Fluent Essays

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, “Each year, more than 200,000 children go to U.S. hospital emergency rooms with injuries associated with playground equipment. Most injuries occur when a child falls from the equipment onto the ground.” In this activity you will use a simple checklist to help make sure your local community or school playground is a safe place to play To prepare for this Activity you need to: Review the portion of the NCDCDEE Licensing Standards for Child Care Centers that address playgrounds.   https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Portals/0/documents/pdf/C/center_chp3.pdf https://nrckids.org/CFOC/TOC Create your own simple checklist from the NCDCDEE Standards and the information presented in the text book. Print out and familiarize yourself with the “America’s Playgrounds Safety Report Card” and study the criteria explanations on page 485. You will be using this Report Card as part of your evaluation. National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education. (2012). Caring for our children: National health and safety performance standards; Guidelines for early care and education programs. 3rd edition. Appendix EE: America’s Playgrounds Safety Report Card. Available from http://nrckids.org/CFOC3/PDFVersion/PDF_Color/CFOC3_EE.pdf Find a local park, childcare center or school playground where young children play. You will not need permission for a public park but will need to schedule an appointment if you choose a center or school. Take a tape measure with you so that you can make accurate measurements.   During the inspection: Be a considerate guest and be careful not to offend your host with critical comments. Evaluate the playground using your checklist. Complete the Safety Report Card according to the criteria on the form. After you have completed your evaluation: You will need to write a report that includes the following: Name, location and description of the playground that you choose to inspect. Did the playground meet the criterion outlined on your checklist? Be specific about any problems that were found. How did the playground score on the Safety Report Card? Be specific about any problems that were found. How do you feel the playground facilitates children’s health by engaging them with the outdoor environment? What would you recommend for an action plan to improve this playground?  Resources: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Portals/0/documents/pdf/P/playground.pdf?ver=2018-07-19-162157-560 https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Portals/0/documents/pdf/P/playground_safety.pdf Division of Child Development Child Care Center Handbook Chapter 3: OUTDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT Purpose Of These Requirements It is becoming clearer from emerging research that children need to spend time outdoors to be healthy as they grow and develop. “Children will be smarter, better able to get along with others, healthier and happier when they have regular opportunities for free and unstructured play in the out-of-doors.” (Burdette and Whitaker, 2005) The purpose of these requirements is to ensure that all children in child care are given the opportunity to play outdoors on a daily basis and ensure the outdoor learning environment is safe. Outdoor play is beneficial to children as well as caregivers. Research tells us that spending time outdoors, exposed to fresh air, sunlight, and natural elements such as trees and grass, provides many health benefits. The outdoor learning environment offers a sense of freedom for children. Children are able to play freely with peers, expand their imagination beyond the restraints of indoor activities, release energy, and explore their sense of touch, smell, taste and their sense of motion. Caregivers are in a unique position to utilize the outdoor environment to promote development and learning. The Division requires that children in licensed child care programs spend time outdoors every day, weather permitting. The North Carolina Outdoor Learning Environments (NC OLE) Alliance is a statewide collaboration comprised of organizations, agencies, and individuals focused on improving the quality of outdoor environments and experiences for all children. To access research and other supporting information on the benefits of outdoor play visit the Outdoor Section of the NC Office of School Readiness web site at www.osr.nc.gov/ole. Another resource available is the Preschool Outdoor Environment Measurement Scale (POEMS), which is a measurement tool available to assist in evaluating the quality of the outdoor environment in child care centers for children three to five years of age. To learn more about quality in outdoor environments for child care and POEMS visit www.poemsnc.org. Definition  Weather permitting is defined as every day, unless there is active precipitation, extremely hot or cold conditions, or public service announcements that advise people to stay indoors due to weather conditions that could be hazardous. The Division allows child care operators to use their best judgment when deciding to take children outdoors in order to make sure children remain safe. Outdoor Learning Environment page 3.1 http://www.osr.nc.gov/ole http://www.poemsnc.org/ Division of Child Development Child Care Center Handbook SECTION I. DAILY OUTDOOR PLAY NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL STATUTE 110-91(2) AND CHILD CARE RULE .0509 Daily Outdoor Play  Each child in care must be given the opportunity for outdoor play each day that weather conditions permit.  The center must provide space and time for vigorous indoor activities when weather conditions do not permit children to play outdoors.  All children, including infants and toddlers, must be taken outdoors daily.  Licensed after school programs are required to take children outside daily even if the program operates less than 4 hours a day.  The amount of time children must spend outdoors or the high and low temperatures for outdoor play are not specified in the child care rules. Child care operators are allowed to use their best judgment when deciding to take children outdoors.  Short periods of time outdoors must be provided even in hot or cold weather. Playing in gentle rain or snow is a learning experience and can be both educational and fun for children. Make sure children are dressed appropriately.  The schedule may need to be changed to allow children to go outdoors at the most appropriate time of the day.  Children that are too sick to go outdoors and/or are not able to participate in all daily activities, which include outdoor activities, should be excluded from care until they are well enough to participate in all daily activities.  Getting outdoors daily, even in the winter, helps children develop healthy minds and bodies. Many adults believe children will get sick from playing outside in cold weather. Children are actually more likely to stay healthier if they play outdoors during winter months. Germs are not contained and concentrated outdoors. Refer to the Winter 2005 issue of the NC Child Care Health and Safety Bulletin on Outdoor Health and Safety for additional information about how the outdoors is healthy for children. www.healthychildcarenc.org Outdoor Learning Environment page 3.2 http://www.healthychildcarenc.org/ Division of Child Development Child Care Center Handbook HH - When outdoor play is not possible, unspent energy can make children irritable, anxious, and difficult to manage. Make indoor days more pleasant and fun by planning activities that keep children active. HH - Help parents understand the benefits of outside play and that children are learning when they go outside. Let parents know children will be going outdoors daily, weather permitting, and to make sure to dress their child properly for the weather. HH - The United States Department of Health and Human Services and the National Association for Sports and Physical Education recommends children should engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily.  The National Health and Safety Performance Standards developed by The Iowa Department of Public Health created the Child Care Weather Watch as a guide to assist caregivers in planning for playtime, field trips, and weather safety. A copy of this guide is available at www.idph.state.ia.us/hcci/common/pdf/weatherwatch.pdf. The Child Care Weather Watch is also used by the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project to determine “weather permitting.” SECTION 2: OUTDOOR SPACE REQUIREMENTS NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL STATUTE 110-91(6) AND CHILD CARE RULE .1402 Space Requirements  There must be 75 square feet of outdoor space per child, or for the number of children indicated by the center’s licensed capacity.  If licensed for 6 to 29 children inclusive, there must be 75 square feet per child of outdoor play area for the total number of children for which the center is licensed.  If licensed for more than 30 children, there must be at least 75 square feet per child of outdoor play area for at least one- half of the total number for which the center is licensed, provided that the minimum amount of space is enough to accommodate at least 30 children.  The total number of children on the playground cannot exceed the number of children the space will accommodate at 75 square feet per child. Outdoor Learning Environment page 3.3 http://www.idph.state.ia.us/hcci/common/pdf/weatherwatch.pdf Division of Child Development Child Care Center Handbook Outdoor Learning Environment page 3.4  Centers operating exclusively during the evening and early morning hours (6:00 pm through 6:00 am) do not have to meet the outdoor play area requirements.  In some areas, there are local zoning ordinances that require larger space requirements per child than the minimum state requirement. It is the operator’s responsibility to make sure that all local/city/county ordinances are met.  To be eligible for more points in program standards for the issuance of a Star Rated License, you will need to meet additional outdoor space requirements. Refer to Chapter 17– Star Rated License for specific requirements. NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL STATUTE 110-91(6) AND CHILD CARE RULE .0605 Requirements for a Fence  The outdoor play area must be protected by a fence of at least 4 feet in height.  The fence must not contain entrapments and fences lower than 6 feet tall must be free of protrusions.  The fencing must exclude fixed bodies of water such as ditches, quarries, canals, excavations, and fishponds.  Gates to the fenced outdoor play area must remain securely closed while children occupy the area.  Entrapment is considered any opening greater than 3 ½ inches but less than 9 inches that would allow a child’s body to pass through but could trap a child’s head.  Protrusion is any object that extends past the outer surface of a piece of equipment that could puncture or scrape children or entangle clothing.  The purpose of the fence surrounding an outdoor learning environment is to keep children safe inside and provide protection from roaming animals or other people outside the play area.  The height of a fence will be measured from the interior side and will begin at the top of any surfacing located directly next to the fence and extend to the top of the fence. Division of Child Development Child Care Center Handbook Fence height  Check all openings in the fence for possible entrapments or protrusions.  Centers operating in a public school are deemed to have adequate fencing protection and, therefore, are not required to have a fence regardless of who operates the program.  If a fence that completely encloses the designated outdoor area is present, it must meet the standards in Section .0600 of the child care requirements. There also must be sufficient square footage available within the fenced area to accommodate the number of children the program is licensed for, or an additional open area must be designated for outdoor play. Possible Entrapment Possible Protrusion  All equipment located within the fenced area designated for use by the licensed public school program serving preschool age children must meet the requirements in Section .0600. SECTION 3: EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS CHILD CARE RULE .0605 Condition of Outdoor Learning Environment  Each child care center must provide an outdoor play environment that is safe and free of hazards.  If equipment is provided, proper maintenance of all equipment is required and all equipment must be in good repair.  If provided, commercially manufactured equipment must be assembled and installed according to procedures specified by the manufacturer.  Manufactured equipment is not required and while it may offer unique opportunities and challenges for children, it should not dominate the outdoor learning environment. Outdoor Learning Environment page 3.5 Division of Child Development Child Care Center Handbook  Equipment accessible to children during normal supervised play must be sturdy, stable, and free of hazards, which include sharp edges, lead based paint, loose nails, splinters, protrusions (excluding nuts and bolts on sides of fences), and pinch and crush points.  All broken equipment must be removed from the premises immediately or made inaccessible to children.  Make sure all nails and bolts are flush with the outer surface of equipment.  Children are not allowed to play on outdoor equipment that is too hot to touch.  If a center chooses to use lightweight, portable equipment, they must make sure that it is used properly and safely. Many companies indicate that this type of equipment is intended for home use only and will not hold up to high use at a child care center. An alert was issued by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) that indicated these pieces of equipment should never be placed over concrete, asphalt, wood, or other hard surfaces. HH – It is best practice to conduct morning safety walks to observe the outdoor area before children go outside. There may be fallen tree limbs, trash, wasp nests, ice or other hazards that sometimes turn up over night or over the weekend.  The law exempts playground equipment on public school grounds used by school-age children from having to meet the child care rules related to the outdoor area, including the playground safety training and completing the monthly playground inspection. The exemption does not exempt public schools from having to remove or fix broken equipment if it is to be used by children. The law also specifies that the exemption will be noted on the license.  CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. To obtain product safety information or to report unsafe products call 800-638- 2772 or visit their website at www.cpsc.gov. Outdoor Learning Environment page 3.6 http://www.cpsc.gov/ Division of Child Development Child Care Center Handbook CHILD CARE RULE .0605 Condition of Outdoor Learning Environment  Upright angles on equipment or fencing must be greater than 55 degrees to prevent entrapment and entanglement.  Any openings in equipment, steps, decks, fences, and handrails must be smaller than 3 ½ inches or greater than 9 inches to prevent entrapment.  An upright angle would be any “V” shaped corner formed by adjacent components of play equipment.  Possible entrapment in a ladder: space between slats should be less than 3 ½ inches or greater then 9 inches. The space where the handrails meet the slide could be an upright angle.  Entrapments are a very serious safety hazard and children have died or been seriously injured due to entrapments on playground equipment.  Check all openings in steps, decks, handrails, fences and other areas on equipment for entrapments. CHILD CARE RULE .0605 Condition of Outdoor Play Equipment  All equipment must be free of protrusions. Outdoor Learning Environment page 3.7 Division of Child Development Child Care Center Handbook  Protrusions can be tested using three different gauges. The gauges are hollow tubes, usually plastic or PVC pipe, in the dimensions indicated below: 1. The first gauge tests the ability of an item to puncture a child’s temple/head. Side view Top view .50 inch inside diameter .25 inch height 1.0 inch outside diameter 2. The second gauge tests the ability of an item to puncture a child’s eye socket. Side view Top view 1.5 inch inside .75 inch height diameter 2.0 inch outside diameter 3. The third gauge tests the ability of an item to puncture a child’s chest, ribs, and/or stomach. Side view Top view 3.0 inch inside 1.5 inch diameter height 3.5 inch outside diameter  To test, place each gauge over any protruding item and determine if it extends beyond the face of the gauge. When tested, no portion of the item should extend outside any of the three gauges.  You can build your own gauges using the above measurements and appropriate materials.  Places to look for protrusions include bolts on equipment or fences, handrails on spring rockers, or other fixed equipment. CHILD CARE RULE .0605 Fall Zones and Resilient Surfacing  If equipment is provided, all stationary outdoor equipment more than 18 inches high must be installed over protective surfacing.  Footings, which anchor equipment, should not be exposed.  Loose surfacing material shall not be installed over concrete. Outdoor Learning Environment page 3.8 Division of Child Development Child Care Center Handbook  Stationary equipment is any equipment that is anchored to the ground or is so heavy that it cannot be easily moved.  Centers wishing to offer the safest outdoor learning environments may consider installing or having resilient surfacing under and around all pieces of equipment whether anchored or not.  Acceptable materials to be used for surfacing include: wood mulch, double shredded bark mulch, uniform wood chips, fine sand, coarse sand, and pea gravel.  Other materials that have been certified by the manufacturer to be shock-absorbing protective material in accordance with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard 1292 may be used only if installed, maintained, and replaced according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This could include rubberized tiles, shredded tires or poured-in- place rubber surfacing. You will need to have written proof of testing done on the materials to certify that it meets the ASTM standard.  We recommend receiving prior approval from your child care consultant before installing alternative types of surfacing material to make sure it complies with the surfacing requirements.  The amount (depth) of surfacing needed is based on the critical height of the equipment. The critical height is defined as the maximum height a child may climb, sit or stand. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission defines critical height as the maximum fall height from which a life threatening head injury would not be expected to occur. The critical height value of the surfacing material under and around playground equipment should be no less than the height of the equipment. Equipment Critical Height Type of Surfacing 5 ft or less 6 ft 7 ft – 10 ft Fine or coarse sand 6 inches 12 inches 12 inches Wood mulch 6 inches 6 inches 9 inches Double shredded bark mulch 6 inches 6 inches 9 inches Wood chips 6 inches 6 inches 9 inches Pea gravel 6 inches 6 inches 9 inches Outdoor Learning Environment page 3.9 Division of Child Development Child Care Center Handbook  Pea gravel cannot be used as a surfacing material in areas used by children less than 3 years of age.  Sand is not recommended as a surfacing material in areas used by children less than 2 years of age. Young children may ingest sand and uncovered areas of sand cannot be protected from contamination.  Checking the depth and resiliency of surfacing material should be done regularly. Maintenance will be required to replace any missing surfacing or to rake and aerate the existing material.  Carefully check the depth of surfacing in high use areas such as exit regions of slides, areas under swing sets, and high traffic areas.  To be eligible for the most points in program standards for the issuance for a Star Rated License, you will need to have an Environment Rating Scale assessment completed. Refer to Chapter 17 – Star Rated License for specific details concerning fall zones and surfacing and the Environment Rating Scale. CHILD CARE RULE .0605 Special Requirements for Fall Zones  For stationary outdoor equipment used by children under two years of age, the protective surfacing must extend beyond the external limits of the equipment for a minimum of 3 feet, except for structures that have a protective barrier. On these structures, protective surfacing is only required at all points of entrance and exit.  For stationary outdoor equipment used by children two years of age or older, the protective surfacing must extend beyond the external limits of the equipment for a minimum of 6 feet.  No other equipment can be located within the fall zone of a piece of stationary equipment.  Fall zones can overlap around spring rockers and around equipment that is more than 18 inches but less than 30 inches in height.  If there are two adjacent structures and one is more than 18 inches but less than 30 inches in height, the protective surfacing must extend a minimum of 9 feet between the two structures.  The area required to have protective surfacing is the area under and around the equipment where the child is likely to fall and is called the fall zone. Outdoor Learning Environment page 3.10 Division of Child Development Child Care Center Handbook  Swings must have protective surfacing that extends twice the length of the pivot point to the surface below. The surfacing should be to the front and rear of the swing. 10 feet 10 feet  Swings do not need surfacing material or fall zones to the side of the swing set.  Swings should not be attached to a composite structure. A composite structure is defined as two or more play components attached or directly adjacent to each other creating one integral unit that provides more than one play unit (for example, combination climber, slide, and horizontal ladder).  The height of swings is measured from the top of the surfacing material underneath the swing set to the pivot point. The pivot point is the point at which the swing chains meet the support structure.  Tot swings must have protective surfacing that extends twice the length of the pivot point to the bottom of the swing seat. The surfacing must extent from the front to the rear of the swing. A tot swing is defined as a swing with an enclosed seat. Tot swing Regular swing on left on right  Swing seats must be made of plastic or soft or flexible material. Distance of fall zone = 10 feet in front and 10 feet behind swing set Height of swing = 5 feet Outdoor Learning Environment page 3.11 Division of Child Development Child Care Center Handbook  Tire swings must have protective surfacing that extends a distance of six feet plus the measurement from the pivot point to the swing seat and six feet to the side of the support structure. 5 feet Fall Zone must extend 11 feet in front and 11 feet in back Fall Zone must extend 6 feet to each side of the support structure Outdoor Learning Environment page 3.12 Division of Child Development Child Care Center Handbook  Homemade equipment can be used if it is safe and functional.  Materials and equipment that are accessible to children must not be coated or treated with or contain toxic materials such as creosote, pentachlorophenol, tributyl tin oxide, dislodgeable arsenic and any finishes that contain pesticides. Always check with the manufacturer or supplier to receive safety data before purchasing materials or equipment.  The Rules Governing the Sanitation of Child Care Centers has specific requirements regarding the construction and installation of materials and equipment made from chromated copper arsenate (CCA) pressure-treated wood. These requirements are located in Appendix C – Sanitation of Child Care Centers - Rule 15A NCAC 18A .2831(e-g). CHILD CARE RULE .0605 Guardrails and Protective Barriers  Elevated platforms must have a guardrail or protective barrier, depending on the height of the platform and the age of children that will have access to the piece of equipment.  Guardrails are required for equipment used by preschool and school age children if a platform is more than 20 inches but less than 30 inches.  Guardrails are required for equipment used by school age children only, if a platform is more than 30 inches but less than 48 inches.  Guardrails prevent inadvertent or unintentional falls off a raised platform.  The critical height of a piece of equipment with a guardrail is measured from the ground to the top of the guardrail.  Protective barriers prevent children from climbing over or through the barrier.  A barrier is a solid railing that will prevent children from climbing over or through a piece of equipment.  The critical height of a piece of equipment with a protective barrier is measured from the ground to the platform. Outdoor Learning Environment page 3.13 Division of Child Development Child Care Center Handbook  Equipment used exclusively by children under 2 years of age:  Protective barriers – an elevated surface that is more than 18 inches above surfacing must have a protective barrier. The minimum height of the top surface of the protective barrier must be 24 inches.  Maximum height – the platform or elevated play surface can be no greater than 32 inches.  Equipment used exclusively by children 2 years of age and up to school age:  Guardrails – an elevated surface that is more than 20 inches and no more than 30 inches above the underlying surface must have a guardrail. The minimum height of the top surface of the guardrail must be 29 inches and the lower edges must be no more than 23 inches above the platform.  Protective barriers – an elevated surface that is more than 30 inches above the underlying surface must have a protective barrier. The minimum height of the top surface of the protective barrier must be 29 inches.  Equipment used by children 2 years of age and older:  Guardrails – an elevated surface more than 20 inches and no more than 30 inches above the underlying surface must have a guardrail. The minimum height of the top surface of the guardrail must be 38 inches and the lower edge must be no more than 23 inches above the platform.  Protective barriers – an elevated surface that is more than 30 inches above the underlying surface must have a protective barrier. The minimum height of the top surface of the protective barrier must be 38 inches.  Equipment used exclusively by school-age children:  Guardrails – an elevated surface more than 30 inches and no more than 48 inches above the underlying surface must have a guardrail. The minimum height of the top surface of the guardrail must be 38 inches and the lower edge must not be more than 26 inches above the platform. Outdoor Learning Environment page 3.14 Division of Child Development Child Care Center Handbook  Protective barriers – an elevated surface that is more than 48 inches above the underlying surface must have a protective barrier. The minimum height of the top of the top surface of the protective barrier must be 38 inches. Guardrail Critical Height = Ground to top of Guardrail CHILD CARE RULE .0605 Protective Barriers on Outdoor Play Equipment  Protective barriers are required for equipment used by preschool and school age children if a platform is more than 30 inches.  Protective barriers are required for equipment used by school age children only if a platform is more than 48 inches.  The height of a protective barrier is based on the ages of children using the equipment.  Be cautious that you do not create entrapments between your rails or between the platform and the barrier Barrier Critical Height = Ground to Platform Outdoor Learning Environment page 3.15 Division of Child Development Child Care Center Handbook SECTION 4: SAFETY REQUIREMENTS GENERAL STATUTE 110-91(6) & CHILD CARE RULE .0601 Safe Environment  A safe outdoor learning environment must be provided for all children in care.  Outdoor play equipment and materials must be age and developmentally appropriate.  All equipment and furnishings must be child size or can be adapted for safe and effective use by children using the equipment.  Equipment and materials must be age and developmentally appropriate for all children who will use it.  Web addresses for additional Playground Safety Resources are located in the resource section. GENERAL STATUTE 110-91(12) & CHILD CARE RULE .0508, .0509, & .0601 Requirements for Activities  The daily schedule must show block of time for activities that are scheduled for outdoor areas.  Developmentally appropriate materials and equipment must be accessible for all children on a daily basis.  Materials and equipment for outdoor play must be sufficient to provide a variety of play experiences that can promote children’s development socially, emotionally, intellectually, and physically.  Developmentally appropriate equipment and materials must be provided for a variety of outdoor activities which allow for vigorous play and large muscle development.  Outdoor learning environments help children develop physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually  When setting up your outdoor environment include natural elements such as plants, trees, grass, gardens, and hills to provide opportunities for children to experience and interact with natural materials and learn about nature.  Keep in mind children are developmentally different in size and ability when selecting appropriate materials and equipment. Outdoor Learning Environment … Playground Inspection Checklist Name of Center: Date & Time Completed: Completed by: Signature: Rule .0302 (d)(6) and Rule .0605 (q) requires this inspection checklist to be completed monthly by a staff person who has received the training in playground safety required in Rule .1102(e). Category Pass Fail Problem Solution General Inspection Playground area free of litter and debris Equipment not damaged or vandalized Surfacing Adequate depth of surface under and around equipment Surfacing material free of glass, debris or other foreign objects Surfacing material not compacted or deteriorating General Hazards Equipment free from sharp points, corners or edges Protective caps or plugs not missing or damaged DCD 0030 1/2018 Equipment free of potential clothing entanglement hazards Category Pass Fail Problem Solution Equipment free of pinch, crush, shearing points or exposed moving parts Playground area free of tripping hazards Deterioration of Equipment Equipment and playground area free from presence of rot, rust, cracks and splinters Equipment safely anchored Security of Hardware Equipment connection, covering or fastening hardware devices not loose or worn Equipment Use Zones Equipment use zones free of obstacles Drainage Systems Playground area free from drainage problems Monthly Inspections shall be maintained and available for review by a representative of the Division of Child Development and Early Education. NATIONAL PLAYGROUND SAFETY WEEK Spring has arrived! Children will be spending more time outside. Each year the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS) celebrates National Playground Safety Week in April. This year National Playground Safety Week will be from April 26th through April 30th. Last year, the NPPS focused on removing potentially ha zardous, heavy metal and plastic “animal” swings from playgrounds. The NPPS hopes that National Playground Safety Week will be a time for everyone to focus on safety and injury prevention on playgrounds. Visit the NPPS web site at http://www.uni.edu/playground/safety_week.html to find out more about NPPS and their goals for National Playground Safety Week. Every year about 200,000 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms for playground related injuries. Most of these playground injuries are caused by falls. The majority of these injuries could be prevented by providing proper supervision and safer playground equipment and design. The following web sites provide good information and resources to make parents and child care providers aware of the potential dangers that can be found on playgrounds and how to prevent injuries from occurring. Within the last five years, the Division of Child Development has implemented many of these recommendations into child care licensing requirements. In addition, child care center staff is required to complete at least four clock hours of training in safety approved by the Division (the number of staff required to complete the training is determined by the number of children the center is licensed to care for). At a minimum, this training must address playground safety hazards, playground supervision, maintenance and general upkeep of the outdoor area, and age and developmentally appropriate playground equipment. Contact the Division of http://www.uni.edu/playground/safety_week.html Child Development or your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency for more information regarding the required training in safety. To search for your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency click on the following web link: http://ncchildcare.dhhs.state.nc.us/providers/pv_providercontacts.asp . A playground should be created to provide a challenging and fun play environment for children but should also be reasonably safe. Parents and child care providers are encouraged to use this information to create and maintain a safe playground environment. National Network for Child Care – Make Playgrounds Safe This article references the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) which recommends that child care facilities establish basic guidelines to reduce the chance that a child will be injured. A detailed list of recommendations for playground safety guidelines is listed within this article. http://www.nncc.org/Health/dc25_playground.safe.html Iowa State University Extension – Tips for Home Playground Safety http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1632.pdf Ten Steps to a Safer Playground http://www.exnet.iastate.edu/Publications/SP23F.pdf U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Handbook for Public Playground Safety contains safety guidelines and should be considered the minimum level for playground safety. The CPSC maintains a hotline (1-800-638-2772) for reporting dangerous products and product related injuries, and for consumer information. A copy of the handbook is available on line at: http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/325.pdf . A fact sheet is also available from CPSC which offers tips for public playground safety from the handbook. http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/Playfct.pdf Another fact sheet is available through CPSC which offers a home playground safety checklist – Is Your Home Playground a Safe Place to Play? http://cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/Pg1.pdf http://ncchildcare.dhhs.state.nc.us/providers/pv_providercontacts.asp http://www.nncc.org/Health/dc25_playground.safe.html http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1632.pdf http://www.exnet.iastate.edu/Publications/SP23F.pdf http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/325.pdf http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/Playfct.pdf http://cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/Pg1.pdf America’s Playgrounds Safety Check Yes No SUPERVISION Adults present when children are on equipment Children can be easily viewed on equipment Children can be viewed in crawl spaces Rules posted regarding expected behavior AGE-APPROPRIATE DESIGN Have separate areas for ages 6-23 months, 2-5 and 5-12 Platforms have appropriate guardrails Platforms allow change of directions to get on/off structure Signage indicating age group for equipment provided Equipment design prevents climbing outside the structure Supporting structure prevents climbing on it FALL SURFACING Suitable surfacing materials provided Height of all equipment is 8 feet or lower Appropriate depth of loose fill provided Six foot use zone has appropriate surfacing Concrete footings are covered Surface free of foreign objects EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE Equipment is free of noticeable gaps Equipment is free of head entrapments Equipment is free of broken parts Equipment is free of missing parts Equipment is free of protruding bolts Equipment is free of rust Equipment is free of splinters Equipment is free of cracks/holes TOTAL POINTS SCORING SYSTEM Total the number of “Yes” answers in the “Total Points” box in the table. 24 – 20 = A Congratulations on having a SAFE playground. Please continue to maintain this excellence. 19 – 17 = B Your playground is on its way to providing a safe environment for children. Work on the areas checked ‘No’. 16 – 13 = C Your playground is potentially hazardous for children. Take corrective measures. 12 – 8 = D Children are at risk on this playground. Start to make improvements. 7 & = F Do not allow children on this playground. Make changes immediately. National Program for Playground Safety 1-800-554-PLAY (7529) ~ www.playgroundsafety.org DOES YOUR PLAYGROUND MAKE THE GRADE? Evaluate your playground using the following criteria. A full explanation of the criteria is on the back of this sheet. **If any of the gray boxes are marked ‘NO’, the potential of a life- threatening injury is significantly increased. Contact the owner of the playground. Explanation of Risk Factor Criteria SUPERVISION *1. Since equipment can’t supervise children, it is important that adult supervision is present when children are playing on the playground. 2. In order to properly supervise, children need to be seen. This question is asking if there are any blind spots where children can hide out of the sight of the supervisor. 3. Many crawl spaces, tunnels, and boxed areas have plexiglas or some type of transparent material present to allow the supervisor to see that a child is inside the space. When blind tunnels are present, children cannot be properly supervised. 4. Rules help reinforce expected behavior. Therefore, the posting of playground rules is recommended. For children, ages 2 -5, no more than three rules should be posted. Children over the age of five will remember five rules. These rules should be general in nature, such as “respect each other and take turns.” AGE APPROPRIATE DESIGN *1. It is recommended that playgrounds have separate areas with appropriately sized equipment and materials to serve ages 2-5 and ages 5-12. Further, the intended user group should be obvious from the design and scale of equipment. In playgrounds designed to ser ve children of all ages, the layout of pathways and the landscaping of the playground should show the distinct areas for the different age groups. The areas should be separated at least by a buffer zone, which could be an area with shrubs or benches. *2. Either guardrails or protective barriers may be used to prevent inadvertent or unintentional falls off elevated platforms. However, to provide greater protection, protective barriers should be designed to prevent intentional attempts by children. 3. Platforms over six feet in height should provide an intermediate standing surface where a decision can be made to halt the ascent or to pursue an alternative means of descent. 4. Signs posted in the playground area can be used to give some guidance to adults as to the age appropriateness of equipment. 5. Children use equipment in creative ways which are not necessarily what the manufacturer intended when designing the piece. Certain equipment pieces, like high tube slides, can put the child at risk if they can easily climb on the outside of the piece. The answer to this question is a judgment on your part as to whether the piece was designed to minimize risk to the child for injury from a fall. 6. Support structures such as long poles, bars, swing frames, etc. become the play activity. The problem is that many times these structures have no safe surfacing underneath and children fall from dangerous heights to hard surfaces. FALL SURFACING *1. Appropriate surfaces are either loose fill (engineered wood fiber, sand, pea gravel, or shredded tires) or unitary surfaces (rubber tiles, rubber mats, and poured in place rubber). Inappropriate surface materials are asphalt, concrete, dirt, and grass. It should be noted that falls from 1 ft. onto concrete could cause a concussion. Falls from a height of eight feet onto dirt is the same as a child h itting a brick wall traveling 30 mph. *2. Research has shown that equipment height can double the probability of a child getting injured. We recommend that the height of equipment for pre-school age children be no higher than 6 feet and the height of equipment for school age children be limited to 8 feet. *3. Proper loose fill surfacing must be at the appropriate depth to cushion falls. An inch of sand upon hard packed dirt will not provide any protection. We recommend 12 inches of loose fill material under and around playground equipment. *4. Appropriate surfacing should be located directly underneath equipment and extend six feet in all directions with the exception of slides and swings, which have a longer use zone. *5. You should not be able to see concrete footings around any of the equipment. Deaths or permanent disabilities have occurred from children falling off equipment and striking their heads on exposed footings. 6. Glass, bottle caps, needles, trash, etc. can also cause injury if present on playground surfaces. EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE *1. Strangulation is the leading cause of playground fatalities. Some of these deaths occur when drawstrings on sweatshirts, coats, and other clothing get caught in gaps in the equipment. The area on top of slides is one potential trouble spot. *2. Entrapment places include between guardrails and underneath merry-go-rounds. Head entrapment occurs when the body fits through a space but the child’s head cannot pass through the same space. This occurs because generally, young children’s heads are larger than their bodies. If the space between two parts (usually guardrails) is more than three and a half inches then it must be greater than nine inches to avoid potential entrapment. *3. Broken equipment pieces are accidents waiting to happen. If a piece of equipment is broken, measures need to be taken to repair the piece. In the meantime, children should be kept off the equipment. *4. Missing parts also create a playground hazard. A rung missing from a ladder, which is the major access point onto a piece of equipment, poses an unnecessary injury hazard for the child. 5. Protruding bolts or fixtures can cause problems with children running into equipment or catching clothing. Therefore, they pose a potential safety hazard. 6. Exposed metal will rust. This weakens the equipment and will eventually create a serious playground hazard. 7. Wood structures must be treated on a regular basis to avoid weather related problems such as splinters. Splintering can cause serious injuries to children. 8. Plastic equipment may crack or develop holes due to temperature extremes and/or vandalism. This is a playground hazard. *If these risk factors are missing, the potential for a life-threatening injury is significantly increased.